Opening 4/20/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

FRACTURE [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn, Billy Burke, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davitz, Valerie Dillman. Plot: when a meticulous structural engineer is found innocent of the attempted murder of his wife, the young district attorney prosecuting him becomes a crusader for justice in this story packed with twists and turns that weave in and out of the courtroom as the pair try to outwit each other. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE HOST [R] 2 hrs. Sci-Fi/Comedy/Thriller Trailer Cast: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hie-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doo-na, Ah-sung Ko. Plot: hen a young girl is snatched away from her father by a horrifying giant monster that emerges from the river, her entire family sets out to locate the beast and bring their little girl back home. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

IN THE LAND OF WOMEN [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy/Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart, Meg Ryan, Olympia Dukakis, Makenzie Vega, Clark Gregg, Elena Anaya. Plot: after being dumped by a famous actress a man moves to Michigan to care for his ailing grandmother and stumbles into the lives of the family living across the street: a mother and her two daughters. Through his relationships with these women he discovers what felt like an end was only the beginning of something else. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

VACANCY [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Horror/Thriller Trailer Cast: Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale, Frank Whaley, Ethan Embry. Plot: When a couple's car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, they are forced to spend the night at the only motel around and discover the low-budget slasher movies they're watching on TV were all filmed in their room. With hidden cameras now aimed at them... trapping them in rooms, crawlspaces, underground tunnels... and filming their every move, they must struggle to get out alive before whomever is watching them can finish their latest masterpiece. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/19/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine - Shooter
Northrock 14 - A Good Year, Grindhouse
Palace West - Music And Lyrics, Arthur & The Invisibles, Dreamgirls, Pursuit Of Happyness
Premiere Palace - Iraq In Fragments, The Lookout, Ghost Rider
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Slow Burn, The Namesake
Warren Old Town - Grindhouse
Warren West 21st - The Last Mimzy, Firehouse Dog

Worthwhile (and not) 4/13/07

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS is the highest rated film for the week, averaging 3½ stars from the critics. SLOW BURN has almost no reviews since its release appears to be a last minute decision. It's actually a 2003 film that was released in most countries in 2005. VARIETY thought it would be an obvious direct to DVD pic. DISTURBIA leads the rest of the weekend choices. You can see the current week's listing here.

DISTURBIA ***

An interesting cast mixture of young and upcoming actors with seasoned veterans. Shia LaBeouf, the lead in this film, has only been out of high school a few years, Sarah Roemer, the love interest, hasn't been around long at all as this is only her third film. Aaron Yoo, the best friend, is a college graduate but is obviously just getting started in the film business. A rather matronly looking Carrie-Anne Moss is the mother, a role I'm surprised to see her take although she hasn't done much of note since The Matrix films. David Morse is a familiar face with an extensive list of film and TV credits and perfect for his role in this film.

The story has a young teen (LeBeouf) becoming a discipline problem after a spectacular car accident in the opening minutes claims the life of his father.He eventually is sentenced to three months house arrest enforced with a tracking device strapped to his ankle. Bored to tears, he starts watching the neighborhood residents with his binoculars, soon spotting a cheating husband, a man who he thinks is acting suspiciously, and a new girl next door who before long joins him and a friend in the observations. The suspicious neighbor becomes aware he's being watched, lets the teens know he doesn't appreciate it, and warns them to stop. They don't, of course, and the rather exciting consequences ensue.

This is a fast paced thriller that will have some jumping in their seats. The teens fit their roles perfectly and Morse and Moss are just fine in theirs. This will never win any awards but teens especially will find this a great date movie. If you can't make it to the theatrical showing, it will be fine in the DVD version also.

PERFECT STRANGER ***

After wrting the main part of this review I went on the web to see what others said and was surprised at how negative they were about this pic. I suppose it comes down to what you're reviewing for. I look for entertainment value while others mainly seem to focus on technique and artistic quality. That's easy enough to do after watching thousands of films but that's not what the public does and it's why in my opinion many reviewers opinions don't agree with those of the general public.

This film features a cast of reasonable quality: Berry, Willis and Ribisi combined with a plot that's fast paced and with enough intracacies to keep you interested. Berry is an investigative reporter who becomes interested in the death of a childhood friend when it appears a famous man may be responsible. Willis is that man and he also has a very jealous wife (with good reason). Ribisi is another reporter who helps Berry in her investigations and who would like to be romantically involved with her, but isn't. Additionally, the childhood friend was no paragon of virtue so there could be any number of others responsible for her death.

I personally found this to be an entertaining film. The language is unnecessarily foul and the plot is so convoluted that any one of the characters mentioned could have been responsible for the murder. Willis phones in his part, smirking in all the wrong places. However, sufficient clues are given throughout to allow you to determine the ending if you set your mind to it. The bottom line is, the time passed quickly and I was satisfied when it was over. What more could you want? If you prefer to wait for this film, the DVD version will be just fine.

Opening 4/13/2007

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM FOR THEATRES [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Animated action comedy Trailer Voices Of: Matt Maiellaro, Dave Willis, Dana Snyder, Carey Means, Andy Merrill, Mike Schatz, Bruce Campbell, Neil Peart. Plot: when an immortal piece of exercise equipment threatens the balance of galactic peace, it is up to the Aqua Teen Hunger Force to run away from it. Peril escalates when the Plutonians team up with the Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past to strive for ultimate control of the sinister deadly device. This is the film whose advertising promo caused a major security scare in Boston.Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

DISTURBIA [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Shia LaBeouf, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, Aaron Yoo. Plot: a troubled teen under a court-ordered sentence of house arrest begins to suspect a neighbor is a serial killer. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS [NR] 1 hr. 50 min. Documentary Trailer Plot: a stunningly photographed documentary of Iraq today, seen through the eyes of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds. Showing at Premiere Palace exclusively.

PATHFINDER [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means, Clancy Brown, Jay Tavare, Nathaniel Arcand, Ralf Moeller. Plot: a young Norse boy left behind after his clan shipwrecks on the Eastern shores of North America is raised by the very Indians his kinsmen set out to destroy. Now, as the Vikings return to stage another barbaric raid on his village, the 25 year-old Norse warrior wages a personal war to stop the Vikings' destruction. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

PERFECT STRANGER [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Psychological thriller Trailer Cast: Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Gary Dourdan, Patti D'Arbanville, Clea Lewis. Plot: when an investigative reporter learns her friend's murder might be connected to a powerful ad executive she goes undercover to find the truth, only to discover she isn't the only one changing identities. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

REDLINE [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Angus Macfadyen, Nathan Phillips, Eddie Griffin, Nadia Bjorlin, Kevin Levrone , Wyclef Jean. Plot: A group of drivers find themselves in an illegal drag race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas for a large cash prize. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SLOW BURN [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Thriller/Drama Trailer Cast: Ray Liotta, LL Cool J, Jolene Blalock, Nora Timmer, Taye Diggs, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Donny Falsetti, Bruce McGill, Mekhi Phifer. Plot: a district attorney who wants to be mayor has only hours to untangle the truth concerning a beautiful assistant D.A., a gang lord, and a mysterious stranger. Filmed in 2003 but just now being released in the U.S. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/12/2007

Derby Cinema - TMNT, Shooter, Premonition, The Last Mimzy
Movie Machine - The Last Mimzy
Northrock 14 - A Good Year, The Hills Have Eyes 2, The Last Mimzy, Peaceful Warrior, Shooter
Palace West - Breach
Premiere Palace - Music and Lyrics, Becket, Pride
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - The Lookout, The Last Mimzy, Firehouse Dog, The Hills Have Eyes 2
Warren Old Town - Shooter
Warren West 21st - Peaceful Warrior, The Hills Have Eyes 2

Worthwhile (and not) 4/6/07

The best reviewed new film this weekend is THE NAMESAKE followed by GRINDHOUSE and then THE HOAX. The rest trail off pretty rapidly. You can check out the MetaCritic ratings here.

GRINDHOUSE ***

I started my movie management career in a time when movies of the type in this film were quite common. I never managed a Grindhouse, a theatre that continuously played B movies, but the Drive-In Theatres I was associated with at the time certainly played that same product. About the only place you'll see product like this anymore is on Cinemax late at night and even those films are of higher quality (I know that will be hard for some to believe) than the Grindhouse ilk.

What Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino have done in this movie is recreate a typical Grindhouse bill of fare; a double feature complete with coming attraction trailers, very dated "Coming Attraction" intros and ads. All of the above are replete with scratches, film breaks, bad splices, and missing reels. They've populated these films with second and third tier actors whose faces will be familiar but whose names you probably won't recall. And occasionally an A list actor will make a brief appearance. Rodriguez's film, Planet Terror, is shown first followed by Tarantino's, Death Proof. The first is the campiest: zombies created by an escaping military gas go on the attack. Tarantino's is the more exciting of the two once it finally gets going but is terribly slow until the muscle cars really make their appearance..

I got a real kick out of this program as my rating indicates. But it's one of those features I would never recommend unless I knew the person well. The language is continuously foul and the killings are too numerous to count and accompanied by voluminous quantities of blood. If you take this kind of thing seriously or are offended by such, stay away. If you do decide to go and have a weak stomach, you may want to hold off on the concessions until after the first of the two features. A big screen and good sound will be necessary for maximum effect.

THE REAPING **½

Normally in my reviews I complain because I felt the movie was too long. In the case of this film they should have added a few extra minutes or perhaps edited more judiciously because the story definitely needed to provide more information. I finally worked it all out but it really didn't need to be that difficult.

The story concerns a former missionary who looses her faith when her family is killed while they're out "sharing the message." She then decides to devote her life to debunking religious "miracles," convinced they're all fakes. It's at this juncture she is invited by a local science teacher from Haven, Louisiana, to come to their town as it appears they are suffering from a progression of Biblical plagues. Furthermore, the town is convinced the cause is a young girl who needs to be disposed of, quickly. She makes the trip and, as you surely have guessed, finds herself with problems that can't be neatly resolved and which may actually have supernatural causes.

This is a reasonably well made supernatural/horror film with good production values and a fine cast. It has the usual shrieking violins and jump cuts found in pictures of this type but the story moves along nicely toward a conclusion that contains a couple of twists. As I mentioned earlier, there are some plot gaps that make the story more difficult to understand than necessary and if those hadn't been there this would have been a 3 star picture, which isn't bad for this genre. It should be a great date pic and an acceptable feature for fans of the supernatural.

Opening 4/6/2007

BECKET [NR] 2 hrs. 45 min. Drama Cast: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Donald Wolfit, Martita Hunt, Pamela Brown, Siân Phillips, and Felix Aylmer. Plot: Nominated for twelve Academy Awards, this 1964 film is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II and Thomas à Becket, a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury. This stunning new 35mm color & Scope print was restored by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, with funding from Martin Scorsese's Film Foundation. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

GRINDHOUSE [R] 3 hrs. 10 min. Horror Trailer Cast: "Death Proof" - Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Marley Shelton, Tracie Thoms, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Bacall, Eli Roth, Omar Doom; "Planet Terror" - Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Michael Parks, Josh Brolin, Michael Biehn, Carlos Gallardo, Tom Savini, Naveen Andrews, Marley Shelton, The Crazy Babysitter Twins, Stacy Ferguson. Plot: the ultimate film experience: a double-bill of thrillers presented as one full-length feature comprised of two individual films. Quentin Tarantino's film, Death Proof, is a slasher flick where the killer pursues his victims with a car rather than a knife, while Robert Rodriguez's film explores an alien world eerily familiar to ours in Planet Terror. Showing at: Northrock, Warren Old Town, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE HOAX [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Julie Delpy. Plot: inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history, when his completely bogus "autobiography" of Howard Hughes was published. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

THE NAMESAKE [PG-13] 2 hrs. Drama Trailer Cast: Kal Penn, Tabu, Irrfan Khan, Jacinda Barrett, Zuleikha Robinson, Brooke Smith, Sahira Nair. Plot: two clashing cultures and two very different ways of life crash into each other in this film about the imminently relevant question: what does it mean to be an American family? Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

Leaving 4/5/2007

Derby Cinema - Premonition
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Pride
Palace West - The Messengers, Stomp The Yard, Flushed Away, Reno 911: Miami
Premiere Palace - The Astronaut Farmer, Happy Feet, Zodiac, Dead Silence, Little Children, Norbit, The Number 23
Starlite Drive-In - nothing
Warren East 13th - Pride, Amazing Grace
Warren Old Town - Premonition
Warren West 21st - Pride, Bridge To Terabithia

Opening 4/04/2007

ARE WE DONE YET? [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Family comedy Trailer Cast: Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley, Aleisha Allen, Philip Daniel Bolden. Plot: sequel to Are We There Yet? picks up where the last story left off with the family in a new "fixer upper" home and at the mercy of an eccentric contractor. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

FIREHOUSE DOG [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Family comedy Trailer Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Bree Turner, Dash Mihok, Steven Culp. Plot: the world's most famous – and Hollywood's most pampered – pooch is separated from his owner and ends up as the mascot of a hapless fire station where he helps a 12-year-old boy and his father, a veteran fire chief, turn the station into the city's finest. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, Movie Machine, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

STARTS THURSDAY, APRIL 5

THE REAPING [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Supernatural thriller Trailer Cast: Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb, Stephen Rea. Plot: a former Christian missionary who has lost her faith investigates a small Louisiana town suffering from what appear to be the Biblical plagues and must regain her faith to combat the dark forces threatening the community. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 4/3-4/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine -
Northrock 14 - 4/3: Dead Silence, Premonition. 4/4: Bridge To Terabithia
Palace West -
Premiere Palace -
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - 4/3: The Ultimate Gift, Bridge To Terabithia. 4/4: Ghost Rider
Warren Old Town -
Warren West 21st - 4/3: Amazing Grace, Ghost Rider, Dead Silence.

Worthwhile (and not) 3/30/07

The national critics thought THE LOOKOUT was the best of this week's offerings with an average of 3 stars. Everything else is averaging 2½ stars with PEACEFUL WARRIOR coming in between 2 and 2½.

MEET THE ROBINSONS **

Based on A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce, this animated feature is being strongly sold in TV commercials as a 3D feature. While 3D digital projection is closer than you might think for Wichita, it isn't here yet which means you'll see it on local screens projected from film and in glorious 2D.

The story is about an orphan who desperately wants to belong to a family and who also possesses a real skill for inventing. Virtually all of his inventions are failures, however, and he becomes very discouraged. It's at this point that he's visited by two strangers from the future, one who wants to help and encourage him and one who's trying to steal one of his inventions.

Most of us are conditioned to think of animated features as funny. Unfortunately, that's not true in this case. The film does have a message that's true for everyone, but you're not going to be laughing while hearing it. Children should be entertained but adults are going to be hard pressed to stay awake through the entire feature. Fortunately, the pace of the story is fast so time doesn't drag as much as it could. I understand the 3D effect adds a lot to the film but you'll have to go elsewhere to see it. The film is shown with a vintage Disney cartoon from 1948 which stars Mickey, Goofy and Donald. Unfortunately, it isn't funny either.

Opening 3/30/2007

For showtimes see SHOWTIMES AT listings in left column.

BLADES OF GLORY [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Sports Trailer Cast: Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fichtner, Jenna Fischer, Romany Malco, Nick Swardson, Rob Corddry, Craig T. Nelson. Plot: When rival figure skaters are stripped of their gold medals and banned from the sport for life, they find a loophole that will allow them to compete – in pairs' figure skating. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

THE LOOKOUT [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Crime/Drama Trailer Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode, Carla Gugino, Aaron Berg, Kalyn Bomback, Alex Borstein, Paul Christie, Sergio Di Zio, Morgan Kelly, Suzanne Kelly, Tracy McMahon, Toni Reimer, Janaya Stephens, Laura Vandervoort, Courtney-Jane White. Plot: a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident, takes a job as a janitor at a bank where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren exclusively.

MEET THE ROBINSONS [G] 1 hr. 40 min. Animated Trailer Voices of: Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Harland Williams, Laurie Metcalf, Adam West, Ethan Sandler, Tom Kenny. Plot: an orphan who dreams of finding a family is visited by a mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson who whisks him away to a world where anything is possible... THE FUTURE. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

PEACEFUL WARRIOR [PG-13] 2 hrs. Drama Trailer Cast: Nick Nolte, Scott Mechlowicz, Amy Smart, Ashton Holmes. Plot: a gifted young athlete bound for Olympic gold who will do anything to be the best meets a mysterious stranger who holds the power to tap into new worlds of strength and understanding. Based on the semi-autobiographical book loved by millions, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. Showing at: Northrock, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK PREVIEW SATURDAY, MARCH 31

THE HOAX [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Julie Delpy. Plot: inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history, when his completely bogus "autobiography" of Howard Hughes was published. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively (7:10 p.m.).

Leaving 3/29/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine - Bridge To Terabithia
Northrock 14 - I Think I Love My Wife, Norbit, Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls, The Work & The Glory: A House Divided
Palace West - Blood Diamond, Eragon, Freedom Writers
Premiere Palace - Breach
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Dead Silence, I Think I Love My Wife
Warren Old Town - The Number 23, Ghost Rider
Warren West 21st - Because I Said So, The Ultimate Gift, I Think I Love My Wife

Worthwhile (and not) 3/23/07

Everything is pretty much in the middle of the "stars" this week with Reign Over Me leading the group and TMNT bringing up the rear. The Hills Have Eyes 2 wasn't screened for the critics (you aren't surprised are you?) so you'll have to wait a little to see the rating, although I'm reasonable sure it will be low. THE WORK AND THE GLORY III: A House Divided is a specialty religious film and is unlikely to have been reviewed by most of the mainstream critics.

Dont forget you can read other reviews on this week's new films in the left column under the Reel Views, Movie Mom, and Film Blather headings.

SHOOTER ***½

SHOOTER has some impressive components. It's based on a novel, Point of Impact, by Stephen Hunter, a Washington Post film reviewer and Pulitizer Prize winner. It's directed by Antoine Fuqua who also directed Training Day. And, it has a cast of upcoming and established midlevel talent including; Mark Wahlberg, last seen in The Departed; Michael Peña, last seen in World Trade Center and Babel; Danny Glover of Dreamgirls; Kate Mara, who spent a few hours in 24; Rhona Mitra, who we just saw in The Number 23; and Ned Beatty, who's been around for ever but not seen all that much lately.

The story has Wahlberg, an ex-marine sniper, asked by Glover to help the government prevent an assassination attempt on POTUS. He's told his sniper experience will be invaluable in detecting the killer. In reality he's been set up as a fall guy but manages to escape even though he's been shot. After a brief period of recovery, he sets out to take revenge on those who "done him wrong."

This is an action fan's picture. I was thoroughly entertained and completely satisfied when it ended. However, it's incredibly violent from start to finish so if you don't care for screen violence you should stay far, far away. The story is predictable but the movie's pace is so rapid you don't have time to think about that or some of the unrealistic events that occur. There's also a political angle that should appeal to those who have lost much of their trust in our government and will find a violent reaction to those responsible for that loss satisfying. The continual amount of explosive action means this film will be most enjoyed in a large theatre auditorium with good sound.

Opening 3/23/2007

THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 [R] Horror Trailer Cast: Jessica Stroup, Reshad Strik, Michael McMillian, Daniella Alonso, Lee Thompson Young, Ben Crowley, Eric Edelstein, Michael Bailey Smith, David Reynolds, Derek Mears, Tyrell Kemlo, Javier Nieto, Gáspár Szabó, Jeff Kober, Jay Acovone, Archie Kao, Philip Pavel. Plot: a group of young National Guard trainees are attacked by mutants during a training mission in the New Mexico desert. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE LAST MIMZY [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family adventure/drama/sci-fi Trailer Cast: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil. Plot: based on the 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett, about two children who discover a mysterious box containing some strange devices they think are toys but which act to make them incredibly intelligent. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

LITTLE CHILDREN [R] 2 hrs. 15 min. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Patrick Wilson, Noah Emmerich, Jackie Earle Haley, Gregg Edelman, Sarah Buxton. Plot: a handful of individuals' lives intersect on the playgrounds, town pools and streets of their small community in surprising and potentially dangerous ways. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

PRIDE [PG] 1 hr. 45 min. Sports drama Trailer Cast: Terrence Howard, Bernie Mac, Tom Arnold, Regine Nehy, Kevin Phillip. Plot: based on a true story about a swim coach's fight to build a swim team in one of Philly's toughest neighborhoods in the 1970s. Showing at: Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

REIGN OVER ME [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Mike Binder. Plot: two former college roommates run into each other years later and rekindle their friendship. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren exclusively.

SHOOTER [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michael Peña, Danny Glover, Kate Mara, Elias Koteas, Rhona Mitra, Rade Sherbedgia, Ned Beatty. Plot: a former Army sniper who leaves the military after a mission goes bad is reluctantly pressed back into service and double-crossed. With two bullets in him and the subject of a nationwide manhunt, he begins his revenge, which will take down the most powerful people in the country. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

TMNT (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES) [PG] 1 hr. 20 min. Animated action/adventure Trailer Cast: Patrick Stewart, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chris Evans, Ziyi Zhang, Kevin Smith, Mako, James Arnold Taylor, Mikey Kelley, Mitchell Whitfield, Nolan North. Plot: the Turtles are in for the fight of their lives as they once again face the mysterious Foot Clan, who have their own ninja skills. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE WORK AND THE GLORY III: A House Divided [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Sam Hennings, Brenda Strong, Eric Johnson, Jonathan Scarfe, Alexander Carroll, Andrew Bowen, Emily Podleski, Ryan Wood, Brighton Hertford, Sarah Darling, Jeff Ham. Plot: third and final installment based on the best-selling series of nine novels about the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Showing at: Northrock exclusively.

Leaving 3/22/2007

Derby Cinema - Norbit, The Astronaut Farmer, Ghost Rider
Movie Machine - Norbit, The Astronaut Farmer, Ghost Rider
Northrock 14 - Because I Said So, Black Snake Moan, Ghost Rider, The Number 23, The Ultimate Gift, Zodiac
Palace West - Catch And Release, Casino Royale
Premiere Palace -Reno 911: Miami, Black Snake Moan, Letters From Iwo Jima, Last King Of Scotland, Pan's Labyrinth, The Queen, Dreamgirls
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Zodiac, The Number 23, The Astronaut Farmer, Breach, Music And Lyrics, Norbit, Because I Said So
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Zodiac, Black Snake Moan, Reno 911: Miami, The Number 23, The Astronaut Farmer, Music And Lyrics, Norbit

Worthwhile (and not) 3/16/07

According to the national critics, The Lives Of Others is the one to see with a rating between 3½-4. I Think I Love My Wife is averaging 2½ while Premonition is coming in a little less than 2. Dead Silence was evidently not screened for the critics.

If none of these strike your fancy you have next week to look forward to, when at least six new films will be arriving!

PREMONITION **½

It's not that movies about time travel or time being out of whack are all that uncommon. A few years back there was Momento, where time ran backwards. More recently there was Déjà Vu, which involved time travel using a machine and The Lake House, which also starred Sandra Bullock, living in disjointed parallel time with a lover. Indeed, if you look here you'll see that time manipulation has been used a lot in films.

In Premonition we have time jumping about. If you've seen the TV commercials you know Bullock is informed her husband is dead but finds him alive and kicking the next day, only to have him dead the day after, or was it the day before, etc. etc. etc. Throw in a couple of adorable children, a possible mistress, spiritual guidance from a priest, a psychiatrist who acts like he needs help, and you've got a full plate of plot.

To me, this is a film of missed opportunity. It had the potential to have been very good. Instead, it feels manipulative. No reason is ever given for her days being so jumbled. She does learn a few things she didn't know at first, but she could have done that just as easily if the timeline had been more straightforward. The ending is a little over the top for my taste but many may find it satisfactory. A couple of things come to mind when all is said and done: I don't think I've ever seen a film with so many extreme closeups (Bullock); and, trying to keep track of what was going on made the time pass quickly, even if I was disappointed when it was all over.

Opening 3/16/2007

DEAD SILENCE [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Supernatural/Thriller Trailer Cast: Ryan Kwanten, Amber Valletta, Donnie Wahlberg, Bob Gunton. Plot: when his new wife is gruesomely murdered, the husband returns to their hometown for the funeral, intent on unraveling the mystery surrounding her death. Himself the lead suspect in his wife's murder, he soon uncovers the truth behind the curse that ended his wife's life...and threatens to take his as well. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi. Plot: an exciting free spirit makes a man's daydreams come true while his wife is so preoccupied with her own career and raising their two children that she has little time for him. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

THE LIVES OF OTHERS [R] 2 hrs. 15 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: Ulrich Mühe, Sebastian Koch, Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Tukur, Thomas Thieme, Volkmar Kleinert. Plot: the story begins in East Berlin in 1984 and ultimately takes us to 1991, in what is now the reunited Germany. It traces the gradual disillusionment of a highly skilled officer who works for the Stasi, East Germany's all-powerful secret police. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

PREMONITION [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Psychological thriller Trailer Cast: Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Nia Long, Kate Nelligan, Amber Valetta, Peter Stormare. Plot: a woman with a perfect life receives the devastating news her husband has died in a car accident. After awakening the next morning to find him alive and well, she discovers her life may not have been all it appeared. Desperately she begins a furious race against time and fate to preserve the life she has known. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK PREVIEW SUNDAY:

THE LAST MIMZY [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family adventure/drama/sci-fi Trailer Cast: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil. Plot: based on the 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett, about two children who discover a mysterious box containing some strange devices they think are toys but which act to make them incredibly intelligent. Sneaking Sunday at 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 3/15/2007

Derby Cinema - Music And Lyrics
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - The Astronaut Farmer, Music And Lyrics
Palace West - The Departed, We Are Marshall
Premiere Palace - Notes On A Scandal, The Messengers, The Good German
Starlite Drive-In - nothing
Warren East 13th - Black Snake Moan, Reno 911: Miami, Night At The Museum
Warren Old Town - Reno 911: Miami
Warren West 21st - Breach

Worthwhile (and not) 3/9/07

Both 300 and The Ultimate Gift are averaging 2½ stars from the national critics. Miss Potter is marginally better but not by much. Those who like inspirational films may choose to see Gift anyway and as I said in my review, 300 will have plenty attending in spite of its reviews. My guess is that if you really want to see Potter you should hurry, as I don't see it hanging around for long.

300 **

The film 300 is based on the graphic novel of the same name by writer-artist Frank Miller. The story was originally published as a monthly five-issue comic book series and later issued as a hard cover book. If you're interested in the book (it's only 88 pages) you can purchase it here (use the Amazon link in the left column of this blog to do so, thank you very much). Miller was also responsible for the comic novel SIN CITY, which director Robert Rodriguez turned into the film of the same name.

One thing film director Zack Snyder did in this production was to use a cast of unfamiliar faces so the actors wouldn't detract from the artistic interpretation of the story. That story is about the battle of Thermopylae, 2500 years ago, where the Spartans battled the Persians in an attempt to prevent the conquest of Greece. The fact that no face seems familiar adds to the comic book look, although that look loses its charm in short order. The film is filled with muscular men bellowing such inspiring dialogue as: "Tonight we will dine in hell." Sure would motivate me. The topless women were a plus but the stabbing and slashing was so constant it soon became boring.

Frankly, the fact I was looking at my watch every five minutes just a few minutes into this film isn't going to mean anything as far as the attendance figures are concerned. Teens and young men will swarm to see this as well as comic enthusiasts and gamers. The fact I'm none of those no doubt explains my negative reaction. Most adults who aren't into comics and games will not find this interesting or entertaining. I've also read some commentary considering whether this film has political overtones. It didn't seem to me as if it did. If this does look like something you want to see, by all means go to a theatre for the maximum experience. This will not translate well to a small screen.

Opening 3/9/2007

300 [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Action/Drama Trailer Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Vincent Regan, Rodrigo Santoro. Plot: a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. The film combines live action with virtual backgrounds. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

MISS POTTER [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Renée Zellweger, Ewan McGregor, Emily Watson, Barbara Flynn, Bill Paterson, Lloyd Owen. Plot: the life of Beatrix Potter, author, is examined in this drama. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

THE ULTIMATE GIFT [PG] 1 hr. 55 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy, Mircea Monroe, Donna Cherry, D. David Morin. Plot: when his wealthy grandfather dies, a trust fund baby anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life, forcing him to determine what is most important: money or happiness. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

SNEAK PREVIEW SATURDAY:

THE LAST MIMZY [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family adventure/drama/sci-fi Trailer Cast: Timothy Hutton, Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Chris O'Neil. Plot: based on the 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" by Lewis Padgett, about two children who discover a mysterious box containing some strange devices they think are toys but which act to make them incredibly intelligent. Sneaking Saturday at Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 3/8/2007

Derby Cinema -
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Reno 911: Miami
Palace West - Rocky Balboa, Smokin' Aces, Babel
Premiere Palace - Charlotte's Web, Venus, Hannibal Rising
Starlite Drive-In - Opens Friday
Warren East 13th - The Messengers, Daddy's Little Girl
Warren Old Town - Music And Lyrics
Warren West 21st - The Messengers, Night At The Museum

Worthwhile (and not) 3/2/07

The national critics found nothing enjoyable in WILD HOGS, averaging 1½-2 stars in their disdain. BLACK SNAKE MOAN fared a little better, averaging 2½ stars. ZODIAC is the clear winner for the week with a 3½ star average.

Don't forget, this site provides you with access to numerous critics. Find your theatre under the SHOWTIMES heading in the left column and then click on the reviews link to the left of the picture you're interested in. There are usually several to choose from. The Movie Mom's reviews can also be read in their section in the left column.

ZODIAC ***½

It's doubtful that most movie goers will remember the infamous Zodiac serial killer who murdered at least five people in the late 60's and possibly early 70's in California. The exact number is unknown because the killer had a habit of confessing to murders he read about in the paper. This film is based on the two books by Robert Graysmith about the killer and the search to uncover his identity. While Graysmith is sure he knows who the killer was, no one has ever been arrested for the crimes.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Graysmith, Robert Downey Jr. as reporter Paul Avery, and Mark Ruffalo as San Franscisco detective Dave Toschi. In addition Anthony Edwards is featured as Toschi's partner and the somewhat notorious Chloë Sevigny is seen as Graysmith's wife in the last half of the film. The first half of the film graphically shows the murders with Avery and Toschi actively pursuing the murderer. The second half occurs after booze and drugs have removed Avery from the chase. Graysmith who was an editorial cartoonist and always interested in Zodiac, takes over Avery's sleuthing and pursues it to its conclusion.

Director David Fincher does a masterful job of maintaining suspense and keeping the action moving, even after the murders have ended and the trail has grown cold. There's even a chuckle here and there to provide momentary breaks in the tension. I was really surprised at just how fast the 2 hours and 40 minutes seemed to fly by. If you're a mystery fan, enjoy docudramas, or just appreciate good film making, this is a picture you won't want to miss.

WILD HOGS **

If you've seen the previews for this film I'm sure you're aware it's a "buddy movie". This time around we have four middle-aged guys going through various crises and a need to get away from it all. The guys are: Tim Allen, as a dentist with a very understanding wife (Jill Hennessy); John Travolta, whose wife has left and whose business has disappeared; Martin Lawrence, who has a job he dislikes and a wife who's not in the least understanding (Tichina Arnold); and William H. Macy, a computer programmer who would love to have a wife but who's lucky to have a date.

They head out on their roadtrip and most of what occurs in the first part you've already seen in the previews. Things don't really get interesting until they run into a group of real bikers who take a strong dislike to them (there's a good reason for that but I'll let you find out why). They end up in a small New Mexico town who welcomes them with open arms when it discovers they aren't the other gang. It's here they face a final confrontation with that gang, the Del Fuegos, and their leader, Ray Liotta, and Macy gets a chance at love (Marisa Tomei).

This is an entertaining film in a cartoonish sort of way. Lots of things happen that could have major consequences but nothing bad ever really happens (think Wiley E. Coyote). You would never take this film seriously for a minute but the cast is good and there's enough humor for several chuckles (probably outright laughs if you're watching with a big crowd). I don't see this leading to a surge in motorcycle sales and I think you'll forget about this pic in short order, but if you're in the mood for a comedy it will do until something better comes along.

Opening 3/2/2007

BLACK SNAKE MOAN [R] 2 hrs. Drama/Romance Trailer Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci, Justin Timberlake, S. Epatha Merkerson, John Cothran, Michael Raymond-James. Plot: bitter and broken from a cheating wife and a shattered marriage, a middle-aged black man decides to cure a young white girl of her wicked ways – and vent some unresolved male vengeance in the process. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, West 21st Warren.

WILD HOGS [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, Marisa Tomei, Jill Hennessy, Ray Liotta. Plot: a rollicking comedy-adventure about a group of middle-aged friends who decide to rev up their routine suburban lives with a freewheeling motorcycle trip. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, West 21st Warren.

ZODIAC [R] 2 hrs. 40 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas, Donal Logue, John Carroll Lynch, Dermot Mulroney. Plot: based on the actual case files of one of the most intriguing unsolved crimes in the nation's history: a serial killer who terrified the San Francisco Bay Area and taunted police with his ciphers and letters. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, West 21st Warren.

Leaving 3/1/2007

Derby Cinema - Because I Said So, Night At The Museum
Movie Machine - Music And Lyrics
Northrock 14 - The Abandoned, Night At The Museum
Palace West - Children Of Men, Primeval, Unaccompanied Minors, Deja Vu
Premiere Palace - Smokin' Aces, The Abandoned, Factory Girl, Pursuit Of Happyness
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until spring
Warren East 13th - Hannibal Rising, Letters From Iwo Jima, Pan's Labyrinth, Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girl
Warren Old Town - Norbit
Warren West 21st - The Abandoned, Hannibal Rising, Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girl

Worthwhile (and not) 2/23/07

This is really Virginia Madsen's week as she appears as the wife in both THE ASTRONAUT FARMER and THE NUMBER 23. Those two span the national reviews with FARMER averaging three stars and NUMBER shuffling along in the 1-1½ range. The rest are between those two except for THE ABANDONED which wasn't screened. If you looked at its trailer it's obvious why it wasn't. You still have time to catch one of the Oscar nominees you've missed before the awards are given Sunday evening.

THE ASTRONAUT FARMER ***

Those looking for a picture with "family values" need look no further. Additionally, this film features a first rate cast headed by Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen. Bruce Dern also makes a rare screen appearance along with Bruce Willis and Oklahoma's Tim Blake Nelsen in a straight rather than goofy role.

The story has rancher Thornton yearning to go into space. The one-time astronaut never made that trip, having to drop out of the running due to the death of his father. So, he builds a spaceship in his barn with the encouragement and support of his wife (Madsen) and three children. Along the way he runs into numerous obstacles including a threatened foreclosure and the displeasure of the Federal government. If you've watched the previews you probably have a good idea how it's going to end, but the road is a little rockier than you might suspect.

This film is all about having a goal and doing whatever it takes to achieve it. Parents and children alike should enjoy this one. A big theatre screen and good sound will add to the enjoyment.

THE NUMBER 23 *

It turns out lots of people think there's some real significance to the number 23. Enough so they've written books about it. There are fans of LOST who feel the number has significance in that plot. It's even true in this case as 3-2=1 and that seems about right for the star rating.

This film brings the number into focus when the wife (Virginia Madsen) of a dogcatcher (Jim Carrey) buys him a used book which details the life of an individual who feels the number 23 is making him do things...bad things. Carrey finds an eerie similarity to his life and starts finding the number 23 is significant in his life also (the day he met his wife, the day of their marriage, etc.). As he studies the book more thoroughly he decides it's actually the confession of a murderer and that an innocent man has been imprisoned for that murder. He becomes obsessed with discovering the identity of the real murderer and seeing the innocent man freed.

This had the potential for being a real edge-of-the-seat thriller. Unfortunately, it's just silly. It gives the impression that someone decided what the ending would be and then worked backwards to develop the plot. I can't tell you why without spoiling the story, but the ending makes no sense at all which is too bad since the film spends ten-fifteen minutes explaining all that's taken place. Production values are good and the cast is fine, although Carrey is the weakest link, but all is wasted on this story.

THE GOOD GERMAN **

Director Steven Soderbergh decided to film this picture, set in Germany in 1945, in the style of films of that era. To that end he used equipment and lighting from that time so the film looks like something you'd see on Turner Classic Movies.

Based on the novel by Joseph Kanon the story is about a well known war correspondent (George Clooney) returning to Berlin to cover the Big Three conference between Truman, Churchill and Stalin. His main reason for returning, however, is to see if he can find the girlfriend (Cate Blanchett) he left when the war started. He's assigned a military driver when he arrives (Toby Maguire) who as it happens is now dating the same woman, who has become a prostitute in order to survive. Her husband was supposedly killed during the war but both the Russians and Americans don't believe it and want to get their hands on him. Why this is and what the wife does or doesn't know is the crux of the film.

The film does have the look of a 40's espionage thriller with the exception of the lush stereo soundtrack and the fact they didn't swear like that in 1940's films. There's also more sexuality in this film than you would have seen then. The biggest problem the film has is that you never really get to understand the characters well enough to care what happens to them, which takes all the tension out of the plot. The other problem the film has is today's younger viewers won't have a clue as to what's going on since for the most part they're fairly ignorant when it comes to history. If you're over 50 and enjoy watching movies on TCM you might give this a look, but it's not something you'll remember for long after watching.

Opening 2/23/2007

THE ABANDONED [R] 1 hr. 45 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Anastasia Hille, Karel Roden, Valentin Ganev, Carlos Reig-Plaza, Jordanka Angelova, Kalin Arsov, Paraskeva Djukelova, Valentin Goshev, Anna Panayotova, Svetlana Smoleva. Plot: an American film producer returns to her homeland, Russia, where her Mother's dead body has been found under bizarre circumstances and where she becomes part of a perverse reunion. Showing at: Northrock, Premiere Palace, Warren West 21st.

AMAZING GRACE [NR] 1 hr. 50 min. Historical drama Trailer Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai, Rufus Sewell, Ciaran Hinds, Youssou N'Dour, Toby Jones, Stephen Campbell Moore. Plot: a moving historical epic about the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce. Showing at: Warren East 13th, Warren West 21st.

THE ASTRONAUT FARMER [PG] 1hr. 45 min. Family adventure Trailer Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Blake Nelson, J.K. Simmons. Plot: dismissed from NASA's space program, a former astronaut-in-training pursues his lifelong dream by building his own rocket. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, Warren East 13th, Warren West 21st.

THE GOOD GERMAN [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Drama/Thriller Trailer Cast: George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Tobey Maguire, Leland Orser, Beau Bridges, Tony Curran. Plot: an U.S. Army war correspondent becomes embroiled with a former lover whose missing husband is the object of a manhunt by both the American and Russian armies. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

THE NUMBER 23 [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Jim Carrey, Virginia Madsen, Danny Huston, Logan Lerman, Rhona Mitra, Maile Flanagan, Patricia Belcher, Lynn Collins, Mark Pellegrino, Tara Karsian. Plot: a man comes into contact with an obscure book titled The Number 23, becomes increasingly convinced it is based on his own life, and begins to realize the book forecasts far graver consequences for his life than he could have ever imagined. Showing at: Northrock, Warren East 13th, Warren Old Town, Warren West 21st.

RENO 911: MIAMI [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Carlos Alazraqui, Mary Birdsong, Robert Ben Garant, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Thomas Lennon, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Niecy Nash, Cedric Yarbrough, Terry Swarsden, Paul Rudd, David Wain, Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Nick Swardson, Joe Lo Truglio, Paul Reubens, David Koechner. Plot: the deputies of the Reno Sheriffs Department attend a law enforcement convention in Miami Beach, where the motley crew is charged with protecting the city after bioterrorists attack the convention. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, Warren East 13th, Warren Old Town, Warren West 21st.

Leaving 2/21/2007

Derby Cinema - Hannibal Rising
Movie Machine - Hannibal Rising
Northrock 14 - Dreamgirls, Hannibal Rising, Last Sin Eater, The Messengers, Stomp The Yard
Palace West - Bobby, Apocalypto
Premiere Palace - Arthur & The Invisibles, Painted Veil, Blood Diamond
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until spring
Warren East 13th - Smokin' Aces, Epic Movie, Catch And Release
Warren Old Town - Hannibal Rising, Because I Said So
Warren West 21st - Dreamgirls, Catch And Release, Smokin' Aces, Epic Movie, Pursuit Of Happyness

Worthwhile (and not) 2/16/07

The national critics found VENUS to be the best of this week's offerings although BREACH and BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA are also in the 3-4 star range. MUSIC AND LYRICS is in the 2½-3 star range while DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS and FACTORY GIRL are in the 2-2½ star range. GHOST RIDER hasn't been screened nationally so it has no rating yet, but you can be reasonably sure it won't be high when it does appear.

I'm pretty much in agreement with most of these although I found MUSIC AND LYRICS and BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA to be more enjoyable than the national critics did.

GHOST RIDER **

The comic book GHOST RIDER has been around for many years. It started out as a Western comic but evolved into the motorcycle riding demon hunter of today, and this film. If you want to read more about him, and I really don't know why you would, you can read this.

The plot is quite simplistic. A motorcycle daredevil sells his soul to the devil in order to save the life of a relative. In return, he's required to turn into the Ghost Rider at night and reclaim escaped demons for the devil. Naturally, these nighttime forays take a toll on his love life and attract the attention of the local constabulary.

This film looks like nothing more than an attempt to inspire several sequels. That appears to be a doubtful goal since this film has been sitting on the shelf for two years. The special effects are reasonably good and the cast isn't required to do much more than step through their roles. You have to wonder why films of this ilk are attractive to Nicolas Cage, an actor who once appeared to be moving up in the acting world but is rather rapidly becoming a has been. Teens and comic book fans will find this acceptable. Everyone else should look for greener pastures.

BREACH ***½

Robert Philip Hanssen, a FBI agent, sold secrets to Russia for most of the 25 years he was an agent. He was finally caught in 2002 and is now serving a life sentence in Colorado. The training agent who became his assistant in order to help the agency catch him in the act of passing information left the agency after Hanssen's arrest and now practices law in Washington D.C. He served as a consultant during the making of this film.

The story begins a mere two months before Hanssen's capture (and you will know he was captured right from the start so I'm not giving anything away by telling you this fact). The training agent assigned to be Hanssen's assistant was told only the agency felt Hanssen was a sexual deviant and they wanted to obtain proof of the fact before the agency was embarrassed by this activity. At first the trainee didn't find anything wrong. Hanssen appeared to be a dour, religiously devout individual who went to church daily, prayed regularly, and was devoted to his wife and grandchildren. Only when the agent tried to quit because he thought there was no case was he told the real reason for the investigation and made privy to all that was going on.

I wasn't really looking forward to seeing this picture, thinking it would be slow and dull (like I found The Good Shepherd to be). Instead, right from the start I found myself engrossed in the story. The pace of the film is just right and there's enough tension to keep you concentrating on the action. The three lead characters do excellent jobs, especially Chris Cooper as Hanssen. If there is a flaw in the film, and I'm not sure it is one, we never find out why Hanssen did the spying. He was paid very well but money didn't seem to be his motivating force. Still, this is an absorbing story. If you like espionage films, this should definitely be on your "must see" list.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA ****

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is based on a 1977 novel of the same name by Katherine Paterson. It won the Newbery Award in 1978 as the year's best children's book and was first filmed as a PBS feature in 1985. The story is based on an actual event that occured in the author's life and which can be read about (warning: spoiler) here. In spite of its popularity, the book is number nine on the American Library Association's list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000, because some feel it supports a secular humanist philosophy (not that I'd care, but I didn't get that feeling from this movie and Paterson's husband is a Presbyterian minister).

The plot is about a fifth grade boy and girl. Both are unpopular and outsiders. They become friends (this is the first time either have had a friend) and use his drawing ability and her imagination to create their own world, Terabithia. The people who bully them at school are interwoven into the world and as they defeat them in their imaginations they become more comfortable in dealing with them in real life. The cast and production is first rate but the girl, AnnaSophia Robb, is a real standout. The screen lights up with her presence.

I watched this with two of my granddaughters, who both seemed to really enjoy it. Neither one had read the book prior to seeing it but indicated they wanted to afterward. While there are many computer effects when in the fantasy world, neither those effects nor that world are the focus of the film. Rather, this is about real people, the world in which they live, and the way they come to grips with the problems in their lives. It is a powerful and emotional film that should be experienced by families as opposed to just dropping the kids off at the theatre for a matinee. Highest recommendation.

VENUS ***½

This picture provides a chance to see three great British actors (Peter O'Toole, Leslie Phillips, and Vanessa Redgrave) plus an excellent young, unknown actress, Jodie Whittaker, strut their stuff as only an extremely talented group of thespians can.

O'Toole and Phillips are aging actors (in the story as well as in real life) who spend their days drinking coffee with friends, trading prescriptions and working at the occasional acting job. Phillips is a hypochondriac just waiting to die while O'Toole is clearly fading but determined to experience all that life still has to offer while he can. Into this humdrum existence comes the grandniece of Phillips. She's been kicked out by her parents so Phillips decides she can help him around his apartment. They have a real personality conflict so she turns to O'Toole for solace, and money if she can get it. He's clearly attracted to her although he understands his physical condition won't allow anything other than the occasional touch. He does get her a job as a nude model, thus the film's title. Then events start to drift out of control.

I like British films and I really liked this one. In this day and age it's unusual to see this much talent on the screen. Each of the characters fade into their role so you're soon watching Maurice, Ian and Jessie and growing to care for them (well, maybe not so much for Ian). I don't imagine this will be around long and that's a shame for such a quality production. Be aware this has language many will consider quite offensive and there is some nudity. Highly recommended.

MUSIC AND LYRICS ***

This year's Valentine's Day movie treat is a romantic comedy with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. Grant's now closing in on 50 but he still has the romantic charm that makes him attractive to a female audience while Barrymore has morphed into the sweet, girl-next-door type; no mean feat considering she once flashed David Letterman on national TV.

In this pairing Grant is a has-been pop star reduced to playing State Fairs in order to make a living. Barrymore is at loose ends, spending most of her time in the family weight loss business. What she really wants to do is write, but she lacks the confidence to do so after a disastrous affair with her college professor. The two meet fortuitously just when Grant has been offered a chance to write a new song for the reigning pop diva. Unfortunately, while good at composing music he has no skill with lyrics. As Barrymore does, it's a match made in heaven.

Enjoyable romantic comedies have been in short supply lately, but this is right on the mark. The plot is nothing to write home about but the casting is very good and Grant and Barrymore have very good screen chemistry. There aren't any belly laughs that I can recall but there are a lot of chuckles, basically due to Grant's impeccable comedic timing. Women and couples will find this an enjoyable holiday outing.

Opening 2/16/2007

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Adventure/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Robert Patrick, Zooey Deschanel. Plot: Based on the popular Newbery Award-winning novel, "Bridge to Terabithia". a story of friendship, family and the power of imagination from the producers of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." Together a boy and girl create the secret kingdom of Terabithia, where they rule the kingdom, fight the Dark Master and his creatures and plot against the school bullies. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, Movie Machine, Warren Theaters: East 13th, West 21st.

BREACH [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Dennis Haysbert, Kathleen Quinlan, Gary Cole, Caroline Dhavernas, Bruce Davison, Mary Jo Deschanel, Gary Cole. Plot: engaged in a lethal game of spy-versus-spy without the benefit of a cover story or backup, a young FBI agent finds himself fighting to bring down his boss before the treacherous double-agent can destroy him, his family and the nation they are both sworn to serve. Showing at: Warren Theaters: East 13th, West 21st.

FACTORY GIRL [R] 1 hr. 25 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Sienna Miller, Hayden Christensen, Guy Pearce, Mena Suvari, Jimmy Fallon. Plot: imaginatively unfolds the comet-like rise and fall of 60s "it girl" Edie Sedgwick, the blazing superstar who came to define both the glamor and the tragedy of our celebrity-obsessed culture. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

GHOST RIDER [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Adventure Trailer Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Sam Elliott, Donal Logue, Peter Fonda. Plot: a superstar motorcycle stunt rider makes a deal with the devil to protect the ones he loves most. In return he becomes a bounty hunter of rogue demons for the devil. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, Warren Theaters: East 13th, Old Town, West 21st.

VENUS [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Peter O'Toole, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Griffiths, Leslie Phillips, Jodie Whittaker. Plot: a pair of veteran actors' daily routine is disrupted by the arrival of a young woman. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

Leaving 2/15/2007

Derby Cinema - Epic Movie, The Messengers
Movie Machine - Epic Movie, Night At The Museum
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Holiday, The Good Shepherd, Open Season, Borat
Premiere Palace - Babel, The History Boys, Children Of Men, We Are Marshall, Volver
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until spring
Warren East 13th - The Queen, Dreamgirls, Pursuit Of Happyness, The Last Sin Eater, Stomp The Yard
Warren Old Town - Smokin' Aces
Warren West 21st - The Last Sin Eater, Stomp The Yard, Dreamgirls

Opening 2/14/2007

MUSIC AND LYRICS [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Romantic comedy Trailer Cast: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Brad Garrett, Kristen Johnston, Campbell Scott, Haley Bennett. Plot: a washed-up 80s pop star asks his quirky plant lady to write the lyrics for a song he's composing in an attempt to revive his career. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Northrock, Warren Theaters: Warren East 13th, Warren West 21st.

TYLER PERRY'S DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Tasha Smith, Gary Sturgis, Tracee Ellis Ross, Lou Gossett, Jr., Malinda Williams, Terri J. Vaughn, Cassie Davis, Juanita Jennings, LaVan Davis. Plot: a garage mechanic who lives in a poor neighborhood and struggles to make ends meet as he raises his three young daughters fights to keep his drug-dealing ex-wife from getting custody of the girls. Showing at: Northrock, Warren Theaters: Warren East 13th, Warren West 21st.

Leaving 2/13/2007

Derby Cinema - Arthur And The Invisibles
Movie Machine - Happy Feet, Pursuit Of Happyness
Northrock 14 - Pursuit Of Happyness, Stomp The Yard, Arthur And The Invisibles, Children Of Men
Palace West -
Premiere Palace -
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until spring
Warren East 13th - The Departed, Freedom Writers, Notes On A Scandal
Warren Old Town - Night At The Museum
Warren West 21st - Charlotte's Web, The Departed, Freedom Writers, The Hitcher, The Queen

Worthwhile (and not) 2/9/07

Only one film in today's openings got into the 3-4 star range: THE HISTORY BOYS. All of the others are below 2½ stars. Again, this is a good time to catch any Oscar candidates you may have missed. Two additional films for the week are opening on Wednesday for Valentine's Day. Perhaps one of those will satisfy any need you have for a new movie.

NORBIT *½

On the heels of his role in DREAMGIRLS, Eddie Murphy falls back on the multiple character shtick he used in THE NUTTY PROFESSOR. This time he plays three characters, Norbit, his grossly overweight wife, Rasputia (don't y0u love that name?), and Mr. Wong, who owns an orphanage/restaurant. Murphy is also listed as a producer and as one of the writers of the script. The rest of the cast includes Thandie Newton, the real love of his life; Cuba Gooding Jr. as Newton's fiancé; and Eddie Griffin and Katt Williams as a couple of retired pimps who can't quite give up their business.

The plot has Norbit trapped in a marriage with Rasputia because he's afraid of her and her three strapping brothers (so is the entire town for that matter). When his childhood sweetheart comes back to town with a desire to buy and run the orphanage they once lived in, he begins thinking of ways they can be together again, while Rasputia and her brothers plot to obtain the orphanage and turn it into a topless bar.

Here's the problem, the film just doesn't have enough laughs to fill 100 minutes. The characters are all stereotypes and that gets very tiresome in short order. Murphy disappears into his characters very well but those characters become boring long before the ending of the film. Newton is lovely as usual but you can't understand what she could possibly see in Norbit. The real star of the film is Rasputia's fat suit, and it's hard to recommend a film on that alone.

Opening 2/9/2007

HANNIBAL RISING [R] 2 hrs. Thriller Trailer Cast: Gaspard Ulliel, Gong Li, Rhys Ifans, Richard Brake, Kevin McKidd. Plot: for the first time in the award-winning series, best selling author Thomas Harris ("Red Dragon," "Silence of the Lambs") writes the screenplay – reaching back to explore the origins of Lecter's rage, terror and savagery. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, Warren Theaters: Warren East 13th, Warren Old Town, Warren West 21st.

THE HISTORY BOYS [R] 2 hrs. Comedy/Drama Trailer Cast: Richard Griffiths, Clive Merrison, Frances de la Tour, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sacha Dhawan, Samuel Anderson, Dominic Cooper, Andrew Knott, Samuel Barnett, Russell Tovey, Jamie Parker, James Corden. Plot: the story of an unruly class of bright, funny history students in pursuit of an undergraduate place at Oxford or Cambridge. Showing at: Premiere Palace exclusively.

THE LAST SIN EATER [PG-13] 2hrs. 20 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Louise Fletcher, Henry Thomas. Plot: based on the award winning novel by Francine Rivers about a young girl's quest for deliverance. Showing at: Northrock, Warren Theaters: Warren East 13th, Warren West 21st.

NORBIT [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thandie Newton, Eddie Griffin, Terry Crews, Clifton Powell, Cuba Gooding, Jr. Plot: abandoned on the steps of a Chinese restaurant/orphanage, a young man becomes engaged to a mean, junk food-chugging queen. But, when his childhood sweetheart moves back into town, he decides she's the one he really wants to marry. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock, Warren Theaters: Warren East 13th, Warren Old Town, Warren West 21st.

Leaving 2/8/2007

Derby Cinema - The Queen, The Hitcher
Movie Machine - Charlotte's Web
Northrock 14 - Blood And Chocolate, Catch And Release, Eragon, Freedom Writers, The Queen
Palace West - Alpha Dog, Flags Of Our Fathers, Employee Of The Month
Premiere Palace - Eragon, The Holiday, Perfume
Starlite Drive-In - Closed until spring
Warren East 13th - Children Of Men, We Are Marshall, The Hitcher, Blood And Chocolate
Warren Old Town - The Departed, Dreamgirls
Warren West 21st - The Good Shepherd, Blood And Chocolate, Arthur And The Invisibles, Children of Men, We Are Marshall

Worthwhile (and not) 2/2/07

Nationally, the critics liked PERFUME the best with 2½-3 stars. BECAUSE I SAID SO averaged 1½-2 stars and THE MESSENGERS wasn't screened for the critics so you can figure 1-2 stars when their reviews start showing up.

BECAUSE I SAID SO **½

Valentine's Day is almost here so you know what that means...it's time for the chick flicks! The plot for this holiday bon bon is about average but the cast has real quality, and they blend nicely. Diane Keaton is the mother, Mandy Moore, Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), and Piper Perabo (Cheaper By The Dozen 1-2) are her daughters and Gabriel Macht (The Good Shepherd) and Tom Everett Scott are Moore's love interests. Steven Collins (7th Heaven) is a double threat as both the father of one of the boyfriends and a potential love interest for the mother.

The plot has Keaton buying an online ad in an attempt to find a husband for her youngest daughter, without the daughter's knowledge. She finds what she thinks is a real winner and sets the two up. But an onlooker to her matchmaking is intrigued and asks the daughter out also. The mother as well as the two other daughters get involved in the romantic proceedings with the mother's romance adding some additional plot twists.

This is an enjoyable piece of fluff but it's the cast that makes it so, not the plot. This is one of those films whose ending you can predict five minutes after it starts. It's not going to win any awards and you'll forget it shortly after seeing it, but you will have a good time as well as a few laughs while it's showing.

THE MESSENGERS **

This horror film has the advantage of a better than average cast for a movie of this genre. The father is Dylan McDermott, the mother is Penelope Ann Miller, the daughter is Kristen Stewart (Zathura and The Panic Room) and the hired hand is John Corbett (Northern Exposure). There's also a little boy but he hardly speaks and is portrayed by twins in any event.

The plot is fairly predictable. A city family moves to an isolated farm to get a fresh start but discovers country life isn't all they thought it would be. The small boy sees ghosts but is too young to appreciate that might not be a good thing. The daughter senses something is wrong but can't convince her parents to listen to her and hit the road. The farm hand is the solid, dependable type who fits right in with the family.

If I go much further I'll give away the entire plot. The production values and directing are fine. There are several scary moments which should make for a good date picture. Plus, any film that has both a raven trainer and a bug wrangler has something going for it. Still, it's a by-the-book horror film so don't get your hopes too high.

PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERER ***

This film is based on a 1985 historical fantasy novel by Patrick Süskind and was finally turned into a film last year by German director Tom Tykwer, who also wrote the score. The novel explored the idea that scents have an emotional counterpart so human response can be manipulated by them. The cast is basically unknown here with the exception of Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman, who play important but secondary roles.

The murderer of the film, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, is born in a fish market to a mother who doesn't want him. He is sent to an orphanage where he is treated brutally and then sold to a tanner when he's old enough to work. He discovers his sense of smell is unmatched by others and he is driven to experience every odor and mentally catalog them. He begins working for a perfumer (Hoffman) and creates many new perfumes for him, an extremely simple task for Grenouille. Since he has no personal odor and is abused rather than loved, he begins searching for a scent for himself that will make people desire him. He determines that the scent of young women is closest to the scent he is looking for and begins collecting the scent of various young women, who unfortunately die in the process. He finally zeros in on one last woman, Rickman's daughter, who's scent he feels will complete the ultimate scent he's been searching for.

As you can tell by my rating, I was impressed by this film. But, for most of the film I would not have rated it this highly. While the production values and acting are immaculate, the story is so depressing it's hard to sit through two hours of it, until you reach the last twenty minutes. But, it's the ending that makes it all worthwhile. I was not expecting what happened (that's unusual for me) and it totally changed my opinion of what I'd seen. I saw people walk out of the screening I attended before the film was over and I'm aure others who decide to attend will also. I'm quite sure some who watch the entire film still won't like it. All I can say is, stick it out if you want the full impact...it worked for me. Tykwer's music score is quite beautiful in a classical sense, with a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle conducting. While you won't get the same impact that a large theatre provides, many may be better served by the DVD version, where an occasional break from the story can be taken.